Grant for Research and Development

Scheme suspended following General Election May 2010, news awaited

Grant for Research and Development – is DBERR’s initiative that provides grants to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses to research and develop technologically innovative products and processes – it may involve any civil technology (discretionary, and projects will b assessed on an individual basis, against the selection criteria to ensure quality and best value for money, but not dependent on location within England).
Click here for FSE’s web site, You will see that in the first instance this is by completion of a project summary (click here)
We will be happy to discuss your project with you and comment on your first drafts of the summary and submit to FSE on your behalf.

Proof of Market

- Proof of Market grants help you test the commercial potential of an idea for a technology innovative new product, process or service through market research, market testing and competitor analysis. Available to all SME’s, Maximum % of eligible costs covered is 60%, £5,000 to a max. £20,000, project duration 6 to 9 months

Research Project

- awards help you assess the technological and commercial feasibility of an innovative technology. These projects will involve planned research or critical investigation aimed at producing new scientific or technical knowledge, which may be useful in developing new products, processes or services. ‘Blue skies’ research is not eligible. Projects may include: conceptual formulation and design, technical feasibility studies, trials and testing, small-scale demonstration to provide basic proof of technical feasibility, IP protection, investigation of production and assembly options, pre-clinical research studies including target identification and validation and Phase 0 pre-clinical studies, applicants Micro and Small businesses (i.e. must have fewer than 50 employees), 60% of eligible costs, £20,000-£100,000, duration between 6 and 18 months

Micro Project

- awards are 45% of eligible costs, £5,000 to a max. £20,000 to help individuals and all micro-firms (i.e. less than 10 employees) with the development of simple, low cost prototypes of technology innovative or novel products or processes, includes small scale exploitation of an innovative product or process, minimum eligible projects costs of at least £5,000, maximum duration 12 months

Development Project

- awards to help in the shaping of industrial research into a pre-production prototype with significant technologically advance of innovative a new product or process which shape industrial research into a product or process, applicants SME’s, 40% of eligible costs, £20,000 - £250,000. Duration between 6 and 36 months

Exceptional projects

- a small number of new, exceptionally innovative products or process which is strategically important to the industrial/technological sector with significant benefits for society e.g. medical/biotechnical. Research grants up to £250,000 covering up to 35% of eligible projects costs, and for Development grants up to a maximum negotiated grant of £500,000 covering up to 60% of eligible project costs, applicants SME’s. Duration 6 to 36 months

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